Officer Resigns and Pleads Guilty in Criminal Investigation

On Monday, November 13, 2006, 31-year-old John Alexander Wood, a Portland Police Officer, pled guilty to two counts of Official Misconduct in the First Degree and resigned from the Police Bureau in connection with an investigation that began in August of 2006. Wood was hired by the Portland Police Bureau in January 2003, and assigned to East Precinct.

The investigation began when two women walked into East Precinct and told a sergeant that five days prior, Wood asked them to pull up their dresses and expose their underwear during a traffic stop. The sergeant thoroughly documented the complaint and sent it to his commander, who in turn, immediately forwarded the information to the Chief’s Office. The sergeant also strongly encouraged the women to file a formal compliant with the Independent Police Review Division (IPR).

Within 48 hours, the women contacted IPR and filed a complaint. Because the allegation, if true, involved possible criminal conduct, the Police Bureau, in consultation with IPR, decided to immediately placed Wood on paid administrative leave and assigned the investigation to two experienced detectives.

During the subsequent investigation, detectives sought other women Wood contacted during the performance of his duties as a police officer. This investigation led the detectives to another woman. The woman told detectives that Wood had made a similar inappropriate, and possibly illegal, request during their contact. Detectives doubt this third victim would have been identified unless contacted by investigators. Investigators found no evidence of physical contact between Wood and the victims.

After completing the investigation, detectives forwarded it to the Multnomah County District Attorney’s office. Detectives found no information to suggest that any other officer was aware of or condoned any of Wood’s conduct.

The Portland Police Bureau wants to remind citizens that they should always report any perceived misconduct to the Independent Police Review Division at (503) 823-0146.